Written by :
Published on :
It will be déjà vu for jockey Calvin Borel at the 141st running of the Belmont Stakes on Saturday.
Borel could pick up a personal Triple Crown as he jumps back on Mine That Bird, the favorite to win the $1-million, 1.5-mile ‘Test of Champions' in New York.
Borel rode then-longshot Mine That Bird to victory at the Kentucky Derby, and then switched to the filly Rachel Alexandra for the Preakness Stakes, riding her to the winner's circle. The filly was not entered in the Belmont Stakes.
Mine That Bird is a -250 favorite to win the Belmont in Horse Racing Betting at betED.com.
Two other top favorites among the field of 10 three-year-olds for Saturday's race are Dunkirk and Charitable Man, both at +250 in Belmont Stakes Betting Odds.
Mine That Bird pulled off a stunning victory as a 50-1 longshot in the Run for the Roses on May 2. Borel and Mine That Bird will break from post seven.
Borel can become the first jockey to sweep the Triple Crown races aboard two different horses in the same year.
Two years ago, Borel rode Street Sense to victory in the Kentucky Derby and was second in the Preakness to Curlin. When the filly Rags to Riches won the Belmont Stakes, however, he did not have a mount.
Mike Smith, who rode Mine That Bird to second in the Preakness, was unavailable for the Belmont due to a previous commitment at Hollywood Park.
Owned by Double Eagle Farm and Bueno Suerte Equine, Mine That Bird is the winner of five of 10 career starts with more than $2 million in earnings.
Charitable Man, who won the Peter Pan Stakes, will be ridden by Alan Garcia from post six. The colt is owned by Mr. and Mrs. William Warren and trained by Kiaran McLaughlin, who sent out Jazil to victory in the 2006 Belmont.
Charitable Man was seventh in the Blue Grass Stakes and has career earnings of $307,200 with three wins in four starts.
Florida Derby runner-up Dunkirk will have John Velazquez in the saddle. The pair will break from post two for trainer Todd Pletcher, who recorded his lone Triple Crown race win with Rags to Riches at the 2007 Belmont.
Check out betED.com for a full list of Belmont Stakes odds.
